BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/New_York X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/New_York BEGIN:VEVENT UID:1110@aboveboardchamber.com DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160731T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160731T140000 DTSTAMP:20160531T201911Z URL:https://www.aboveboardchamber.com/events/17th-annual-big-backpack-even t/ SUMMARY:17th annual Big Backpack Event DESCRIPTION:As the school year winds down for Southwest Florida students\, it’s time to save the date for the 17th Annual Big Backpack Event\, pres ented from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday\, July 31 at Harborside Event Cente r by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida. Every year thousands o f kids receive free backpacks and school supplies while celebrating divers ity in our community.\n\nAdmission is free to this festival event\, which has become the largest back-to-school outreach program in Lee County. In a dvance of the Big Backpack Event\, community members are invited to partic ipate in the Adopt-A-Student fundraiser. Each $10 donation provides a stud ent with a new backpack and school supplies that include notebook paper\, folders\, crayons\, glue\, pencils and pens.\n\n \;\n\nFor the past 16 years the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida has been hosting th is popular community outreach event that to date has provided new backpack s and school supplies to more than 37\,000 students. The event lends a he lping hand to students and families in need\, while celebrating the divers ity in Southwest Florida with live multicultural entertainment on the main stage including hip hop\, Irish step dance\, salsa and more.\n\n \;\n \nThe first 2\,000 or more children age 5-12 will receive free backpacks a nd school supplies or while supplies last. Children must be present with a parent or guardian to receive free supplies. The line typically begins to form around the Harborside Event Center as early as 7 a.m.\, but moves qu ickly once the doors open.\n\n \;\n\nFamilies will enjoy other event f estivities such as face painting\, inflatable slide and bounce house\, clo wns\, and live entertainment. Thanks to sponsors and vendors\, students ma y also receive eye exams\, haircuts\, and other giveaways at the event whi le supplies last.\n\n \;\n\nMulticultural Centre of Southwest Florida Executive Director Leonardo Garcia said\, “It’s the support of event s ponsors large and small that make this event a success each year.” He co ntinues\, “Success is measured with each one of the thousands of multicu ltural students and families we support each year by lessening the financi al burden placed on them with the rising cost of back-to-school needs. I a m amazed every year by the generosity of the community\, and the gratitude of the families we serve.”\n\n \;\n\nFor more information on Adop t-A-Student\, vendor\, volunteer or business sponsorship opportunities\, v isit www.multiculturalcentre.org.\n\n \;\n\nMulticultural Centre of  Southwest Florida\n\nThe Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida i s a private non-­profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization establishe d in Fort Myers with the purpose of promoting programs aimed at bringing p eople of different cultures together and culturally linking Southwest Flor ida with other communities around the world. For more information vis it www.multiculturalcentre.org. LOCATION:Harborside Event Center\, 1375 Monroe Street \, Fort Myers\, FL\, 33901\, United States GEO:26.6441575;-81.87222680000002 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=1375 Monroe Street \, Fort Myers\, FL\, 33901\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Harborside E vent Center:geo:26.6441575,-81.87222680000002 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York X-LIC-LOCATION:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20160313T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR